A Wealth of Possibilities for Possibilities of Wealth

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Sometimes we start down a road in life, only to find we’re on a different road than we anticipated. That would certainly describe my life this last four years. It was like a giant detour or at least that’s the way it feels. The one thing I have missed is blogging. It’s been quite a while. It’s time to come back. Maybe not in the same way – after all I’ve changed, but never-the-less I have the need to reconnect.

It seems that with every passing year, the knowledge that life is precious becomes bigger and bigger. Yeah, there’s the tragedies. People get sick, people die, the economy turns bad, people lose jobs. Lots of not-so-great things happen. But I also think that that sometimes things happen that force us to slow down and see the beauty. When I was a kid, one of my favorite pastimes was laying on the lawn, watching the clouds go by. I’ve been doing a lot more of that type of thing lately.

I just recently had to place a friend (only 64) in a Memory Care unit, someone I’ve been care-taking for 3+ years. When I visited him the other day, he couldn’t wait to show me the beautiful mountains out his window. For now, that’s the beauty in his life.

I love what Dewitt Jones philosophy is “Celebrate What’s Right with the World!” His goal is to take a photo of something each day that epitomizes that saying.

We all can see the negatives. The question is “Can You See the Positives?” I hope so and I plan on continuing to also.

I recently came across a story that I had heard before but had forgotten. It’s the story about how Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield got their business off the ground after writing their first “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book. They had a difficult time getting it published and then they had an even more difficult time getting anyone to buy it. But on the advice of a teacher named Scholastico, they developed their “rule of five”. Each day the would do five specific things that would move their business forward to reach their dream of selling books.

They did five things a day, day after day, for over two years. Today they have over 170 titles in multiple languages and have sold millions of copies. That sounds like success.

I began doing the same thing a week ago with some accountability partners. While we have all been working on our businesses, listing 5 things to accomplish and emailing them to each other has made a huge difference. For myself, I am considerably more focused. It’s easier for me to stay on task and I have a bigger sense of accomplishment. I have done lists before but never with this consistentcy nor with others. I can already sense a difference. It will be exciting to see where we all are a year from now.

Do you have the tenacity to do five things a day, every day to realize your dreams?

Affirmations are great tools that can help you overcome fear, build your confidence, develop an abundance mind-set and more. The problem is that many people aren’t sure exactly how to write effective affirmations.

There are plenty of differing opinions on the right and wrong ways to write effective affirmations, but the bottom line is that an affirmation can be considered effective if it works for YOU! The whole point of affirmations is to shift your thoughts and emotions to a more positive place so you feel more confident, happy, secure, abundant, or anything else you’re trying to accomplish.

Take a look at the sample affirmations below for starters and feel free to use them if they resonate with you. If not, try altering them slightly until they trigger the mind-set and emotional state you’re trying to attain.

Affirmations for Healthy Weight and Body Image:

Today I love my body fully, deeply and joyfully.

My body has its own wisdom and I trust that wisdom completely.

My body is simply a projection of my beliefs about myself.

I am growing more beautiful and luminous day by day.

I choose to see the divine perfection in every cell of my body.

Affirmations for Self-Confidence and Self-Belief:

I’m proud of myself for even daring to try!

Today I put my full trust in my inner guidance.

I grow in strength with every forward step I take.

I release my hesitation and make room for victory!

With a solid plan and a belief in myself, there’s nothing I can’t do.

Affirmations for Abundance and Prosperity:

I am open to the flow of great abundance in all areas of my life.

I always have more than enough of everything I need.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Today I expand my awareness of the abundance all around me.

I allow the universe to bless me in surprising and joyful ways.

Affirmations for Life Purpose:

My purpose is to develop and share the best parts of myself with others.

Today I present my love, passion, talent and joy as a gift to the world.

I need not know the entire journey in order to take one step.

I fulfill my life purpose by starting here, right now.

My life purpose can be whatever I decide to make it.

Affirmations for Inner Peace:

All is well, right here, right now.

Peace begins with a conscious choice.

Today I embrace simplicity, peace and solace.

A peaceful heart makes for a peaceful life.

I trust the universe to deliver my highest good in every situation.

Affirmations for Opportunity:

An opportunity is simply a possibility until I act on it.

Some of the best opportunities are made, not found.

Today I see each moment as a new opportunity to express my greatness.

I expand my awareness of the hidden potential in each experience.

Let each of my experiences today be a gateway to something even better.

Affirmations for Love:

I am ready for a healthy, loving relationship.

All of my relationships are meaningful and fulfilling.

As I share my love with others the universe mirrors love back to me.

I see everyone I meet as a soul mate.

I trust the universe to know the type of partner who is perfect for me.

Affirmations for Healing:

Thank you for my strength, my health and my vitality.

I am feeling stronger and better now.

I love taking good care of myself.

Today, nurturing myself is my highest priority.

Thank you for the opportunity to balance my mind, body and spirit.

Affirmations for Inner Clarity:

Today I awaken to my higher wisdom.

My inner voice guides me in every moment.

I am centered, calm and clear.

I always know the right actions to achieve my goals.

When I know where I’m going, getting there is a cinch!

Affirmations for Self-Love:

I’m proud of all I have accomplished.

Today I give myself permission to be greater than my fears.

I love myself no matter what.

I am my own best friend and cheerleader.

Thank you for the qualities, traits and talents that make me so unique.

Years ago when Barbara DeAngelis was doing weekend retreats in Santa Monica, I asked her at the end of this fabulous weekend, “So this is great but how do we stay on track and stay focused once we leave here.” Her answer was to continually read books, listen to audio recordings and get to other events. I’ve done that over the years and it has become an important part of my life. Here’s just a few of the books I’ve come across.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Working with the Law by Raymond Holliwell

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer

You Were Born Rich by Bob Proctor

The One Minute Millionaire by Mark Victor Hansen

The World’s Most Powerful Leadership Principle – How to Become A Servant Leader by James C. Hunter

The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen

Excuse Me Your Life is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn

You Can If You Think You Can by Norman Vincent Peale

The Secret of Ages by Robert Collier

Life is Tremendous by Charlie “Tremendous” Jones

The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall

It’s Not Over Until You Win by Les Brown

The Anatomy of Peace by Arbinger Institute

Play to Win! by Larry & Hersch Wilson

Life More Abundant by Bill O’Hearn

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey

As A Man Thinketh by James Allen

The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

Put Your Dream to The Test by John Maxwell

The Hidden Power by Thomas Troward

As The Future Catches You by Juan Enriquez

Playing Life to Win by Dr. Taylor Hartman

There are obviously many more. What are some books that have had an impact on your life?

I don’t normally make my posts all about a product. However if you’re looking to build an online presence, you’re undoubtedly familiar with Google Adwords. And if you’re serious about learning how to use Adwords to maximize your profits, you’ve probably heard of Perry Marshall.

Perry Marshall’s 2010 Definitive Guide to Google Adwords is being released on Tuesday 9/15/09 and you have a unique opportunity to preregister and not only receive the new Definitive Guide but a chance to meet with Perry and 3 other entrepreneurs to grow your business exponentially.

1) He has created modules to tailor the Definitive Guide to specific businesses and needs:

Beginners module to get your new business up and running profitably with Kevin Thompson

Research module to find those looking for that hot market

Affiliate module to avoid the pitfalls with Google with Amit Mehta

Copywriting module to improve your ads and website with Michel Fortin

… and more with people such as Shelley Ellis and Ken McCarthy

These are more than just interviews but contain PDF’s, Video and MP3’s in the members’ area. And, of course, Perry and Bryan reveal how to attract millions of potential buyers in a matter of minutes at the lowest cost possible. With all new tactics and insights, they’ve completely cracked the code anew.

2) The first 500 orders on Tuesday get an invitation to pepper Perry with questions live on a 2+ hour strategy session over the phone. INVALUABLE!

3) Someone who registers for the early bird notification will win a $7,276 seat at one of Perry’s upcoming 4 Man Intensives and… Perry will pay for the ticket to Chicago (up to $500).

I have used several of Perry’s products including the Definitive Guide and I find his information outstanding. In fact, I have found very few who compare to the quality of information he provides.

So if you want to skip to the front of the line and get an early bird notification on 9/15 for the 2010 Definitive Guide to Google Adwords and a chance to win admission to Perry’s 4 Man Intensive (valued at $7,276), register now!

I recently listened to a video about a man who had learned that gratitude is not something we can pick and choose the circumstances to apply it to. Rather the key is to be grateful for everything in our lives – both those that we perceive to be positive and those that we perceive to be negative. It is the combination of those opposing experiences that make us who we are, i.e. we would not be the same person if we had not had cancer or a heart attack or lost someone we love. As painful as those experiences may have been, they make us who we are and for that we must be grateful. We have the power within us to shape our responses to tragedies in our lives.

Henri Nouwen, a Dutch Roman Catholic priest, believes that gratitude must be inclusive. We must be grateful for all of our life, not just for favors bestowed. In his book, All Is Grace, he says,

“…how often we tend to divide our past into good things to remember with gratitude and painful things to accept or forget. Once we accept this division, however, we quickly develop a mentality in which we hope to collect more good memories than bad memories, more things to be grateful for than things to be resentful about…. But this way of thinking… prevents us from truly allowing our whole past to be the source from which we live our future. “

“Gratitude is not a simple emotion or an obvious attitude. It is a difficult discipline to constantly reclaim my whole past… It is hard precisely because it challenges me to face the painful moments… When our gratitude for the past is only partial, our hope for a new future can never be full.”

If you asked someone if they would rather succeed or fail, they would say they wanted to succeed. Who wouldn’t? But, success involves more than just wishing it was so.

What defines the road to success? –

Make decisions that will lead to the realization of your goal. Easier said than done, in most cases. Somewhere along the way, obstacles seem to find us and then the goal doesn’t look as straightforward as it once did.

Stay focused. Think of taking a picture. In order for you to see everything, you have to adjust your focus so the picture is clear. Achieving your goals is a matter of keeping the picture clear. That is where your mental focus comes into play. Your goal stays in focus when it is in the forefront of your mind. That’s essential when striving for your goal.

Total focus is the way to accomplish a goal but what that means for you depends on the goal. For example:

Let’s say that you want to lose weight. At some time in their lives, most people do. So you make a plan to accomplish this weight loss. Your plan might include exercise and eating better. Every time you eat, a conscious decision has to be made that reflects your goal. Do you eat a hamburger with everything or have a chicken breast with vegetables? When you plan your day, does it include exercise?

Focus is not obsessing. Obsession gets you on the scale five times a day. Focus, on the other hand, follows a plan. Your plan is to change your eating habits and increase you exercise to shed extra weight. Your plan can then be broken down into more specifics, as needed.

Focus moves forward always towards the goal you have set. When you are focused, there is always a new path to try when you hit a roadblock. Your eye is always on the goal. You may post pictures or affirmations around the house as continuous reminders.

Success with your goals is not a matter of luck but of looking towards the end result and staying focused on what you’re trying to achieve. Remember, it’s okay to stumble along the way, just don’t give up.

You are not alone in this world. You interact with several different people on a daily basis. It could be family, friends or coworkers but each person offers a unique relationship that can add to your life, if you let it.

It is not easy cultivating relationships. Think of a garden. In order for the plants and flowers to grow well they need love and attention. Turning over the soil, adding mineral nutrients and watering are all a part growing a healthy plan and relationships need that same type of nurturing.

There are several ways to keep the relationships in your life well tended. When they are, you’ll find a wealth of support and knowledge to help you achieve your personal goals.

Listen. Ask them about their day or how things are going with their families and really listen to what they say. Develop empathy for those you care about so you are able to understand where a they are coming from.

Communicate often. It is easy these days to lose touch. But, there is also a variety of ways to let someone know they are special in your life: cell phone, telephone, letter, texting and email besides face to face meetings. Let the special people in your life know you haven’t forgotten about them even though the years and miles keep you apart.

Spend time with others. We all need human contact. Create new memories with friends and family. Don’t neglect people for things. Relationships are always going to be the more valuable of the two.

Know yourself. It is hard to be a part of a group if you don’t know what you bring to it. Each of us has unique talents and skills. Sharing these traits in common with another begins a relationship. When you are secure in who you are and how you feel it is easier to share a part of yourself with others.

Define your commitment. Relationships take time and commitment. Are you willing to invest that time? When you put in the time, you notice things about others such as when they are not well or need your help. These non-verbal cues develop over time. If you want friends, you have to learn to be one first.

Relationships will wither away without proper care. It doesn’t take much to start a relationship but keeping it going requires commitment to share yourself with others to the benefit of both of you.

There is no one secret to success, but there are certain things most successful people do. As Aristotle said, “You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence is not an event – it is a habit.”

So fill your days with habits that will help you along the way.

Action.Take action each day by beginning the day with a clear plan. You can not do anything about yesterday or tomorrow so focus on today.

Gratitude. Spend time each day to appreciate the things you have. Start and end your day by listing 5 things for which you’re grateful. Soon, these feelings of gratitude will become a part of your life. When you fill yourself with positive feelings, more positive things begin to happen.

Visualization. Visualize the things you want. Experience the feeling of already having it. Your goal must become part of you and as it does, your subconscious will become more aware of opportunities that will present themselves.

Belief. Have faith in what you can do. Believe in yourself and if you don’t have belief in yourself, find someone who does. I’ve told my children many times when they would say, “I can’t do that” or I’m not good enough to do that”. I would ask them “do you believe that I believe you can?” They would say “yes” and my comment then is “Well then believe in my belief in you.” It’s amazing the results.
Recall all the previous successes you have had in your life. Use these memories to build self-confidence. When you believe that you can do something, you will find a way to make your belief come true.

Resources. Apply all available resources.This includes people you can discuss things with, or books, articles or multimedia that will help you develop the skills you need. Seek out the best sources of information that you can afford. Read something inspirational and innovative every single day. The best leaders have big libraries.

Remember, when you can create a burning desire by imagining your ultimate success, self-discipline will happen. If you do not have a burning desire, you may want to rethink your goals. Unless you feel passionate about your goals, the smallest obstacle will throw you off course.

The path to achieve your goal may be arduous but if the thought of it doesn’t bring you joy, reassess what you’re doing.